Meals Matter

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BreakFAST and Jump to It! Objectives

  • Students will name (verbally) the 5 food groups.
  • Students will choose 3 nutritious foods from 5 food groups.
  • Students will decide which breakfast foods will not provide sustained energy.
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Off to a Good Start: Why is breakfast important for my students and/or child?

Studies show the relationship between a healthful lifestyle and academic achievement supports this equation:

good nutrition + exercise = optimal learning.

Breakfast provides students with the energy and essential nutrients they need to concentrate on and accomplish learning tasks. It provides 1/4 of the recommended daily allowance for nutrients such as calcium, protein, vitamin A, vitamin B6, magnesium, iron and zinc. Studies suggest a connection between physical activity and increased levels of alertness, mental function and learning.

Students who eat breakfast have higher achievement scores, lower rates of absence and tardiness, and increased concentration in the classroom. 

Balanced meals offering foods from several food groups (containing carbohydrate, protein and fat) are designed to sustain students' energy throughout the morning.
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Criteria for a winning breakfast

The criteria used in this game for a "winning" breakfast is similar to the guidelines for California's School Breakfast Program Meal Pattern. To successfully complete the game, a student must:

  • Pick 3- 5 foods, including at least one from each of the following food groups
    • milk & milk products or meat, beans & nuts
    • fruits or vegetables
    • grains, breads & cereals
  • We limited it to no more than 5 foods since it is unlikely that children would ever have time to eat more than 5 different  foods for breakfast.
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Check the following to get a picture of your family's lifestyle habits: 

Always Rarely
Our whole family shares meals together every morning.
We encourage our child to eat a wide variety of foods.
Our child has breakfast each 
morning before school or play.
We set a good example for our child by practicing healthy lifestyles ourselves, both in food choices and with physical activity.

How did you do? You play an important role in helping to establish healthful habits for your family and/or students. Think about one step you can take this week to help your family eat a more nutritious breakfast. Read on for some more important tips!
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Building a Pyramid

To help your children/students learn more about the foods contained in MyPyramid, click here.
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Tips for Parents

  1. Let your child vary the breakfast menu. Dinner fare can become breakfast foods & favorite snacks can become meals. How about leftover pizza or pasta for breakfast?
  2. Be ready to join your child for breakfast. Children learn best by your positive behavior example.
  3. Seek to keep breakfast simple. Try quick "go-together " foods like cereal and milk, toast with peanut butter, a hard-cooked egg and bagel.
  4. Make breakfast the last thing you do in the morning versus trying to get your children to eat first thing out of bed.
  5. Need ideas on what to serve for breakfast? Maybe this list will help you provide something different, fun and easy for your family:
  • Fresh Fruit 
  • Pudding Cups
  • String Cheese 
  • Hard-cooked Eggs
  • Burrito 
  • Cereal Bar 
  • Yogurt 
  • Fruit Smoothie 
  • Bagel w/cream cheese 
  • Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich
  • Toaster waffle w/fruit or yogurt
  • Leftover rice, meat and vegetables 
  • Oatmeal w/applesauce 
  • Apples slices with peanut butter
  • Cereal, milk, and fruit
  • Fruit Cup
  • Quesadilla
  • Cup of noodles
  1. Remember to check MealsMatter for tips, recipes and snack ideas.
 

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